Holborn Dining Room- Holborn, London

252 High Holborn, WC1V 7EN
http://www.holborndiningroom.com/

The Holborn Dining Room is a grand dining salon located in the Rosewood Hotel. Conveniently, the cosy Scarfes Bar is in close proximity for a specially curated cocktail pre or post dinner. Inside the Dining Room, red leather seats, antique mirrors, marble pillars and a copper-topped bar bring a real sense of elegance to this brasserie.

The seasonal British menu has variety; dishes range from green spelt risotto or the shrimp burger to the lamb rump with violet artichokes or Angus beef & stilton pie. The hot and cold counter menus are great for small dishes to share. Espresso Martinis and a delicious raspberry & rose Eton Mess finished our lovely dinner off nicely.

I took note of the breakfast options too- tasty looking pastries, toasted avocado muffin, fresh fruit, buttermilk pancakes, Eggs Benedict and a caviar omelette (if you feel awfully flush)  were some of the options- as it would be an equally lovely brunch venue.

A pretty courtyard with tables also let's you enjoy drinks & food al fresco.

Goodman- The City, London

11 Old Jewry, EC2R 8DY
http://www.goodmanrestaurants.com/

Hand on heart, the best steak I've had in London was at Goodman. Meat is dry-aged on site; a unique treatment ensuring a very full and intense flavour. Book an early(ish) table to get a pick of the limited special cuts they have on offer; we ordered a hefty 900g Chateaubriand between four which came cooked to a perfect medium rare. Spoilt for choice with delicious sides, we decided on mac and cheese with truffle sauce, sea salt truffle fries (you can never have too much truffle), chilli garlic spinach and buttered green beans. With just enough space left to share a couple of desserts, the baked New York cheesecake with cherry compote and the choc chip brownie ice cream sundae were polished off in a flash. Goodman has restaurants in the City, Canary Wharf and Mayfair, so there's hopefully one location accessible for most. The Mayfair branch is currently running a Sunday roast beef menu on handful of dates- delicious goosey roast potatoes and live music!

Oblix- The Shard, London Bridge

Level 32, The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, SE1 9RY
http://www.oblixrestaurant.com/

We visited Oblix on a whim one Tuesday evening and were delighted to hear there were some spots left at the counter tables. This didn't bother us at all; as we faced a stunning, sun-setting London skyline and enjoyed a delicious glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The food was quite delicious; we ordered buttery black cod with an indulgent side of creamy macaroni cheese. The roasted cauliflower with almonds and pomegranate was a creative and tasty mix of flavours. The entrance is grand; a low lit stone corridor opens out into the bright, light restaurant with stunning views of the city. An open kitchen lets you watch the talented chefs busy at work while live jazz can be enjoyed from the lounge.

Vanilla Black- Holborn, London

17- 18 Tooks Court, EC4A 1LB
http://www.vanillablack.co.uk

Michelin recommended Vanilla Black is a must not only for veggies, but for anyone with an appreciation of flavour creativity and beautiful presentation when they dine out.

Amongst our starters were the yellow pea soup with marmite dumplings and the whipped jacket potato with crispy shallots; a delicious bowl of Wensleydale mash. Quite unusually, ice cream featured with the starters too- of the brie variety!- with quinoa, spring onion and blackberries.

The wonderful choice of dishes carried on to mains, and our decisions didn't disappoint. The goats cheese and toasted cauliflower mille feuille with golden raisin and cashew nut potato tasted amazing. Big thumbs up also went to the mushroom mousse and rosemary sauce and the double baked ribblesdale (cheese) pudding with smoked croquette.

Dessert was truly the grande finale, a favourite the scrumptious chocolate and walnut oil pate with avocado ice cream, lime meringue, dark chocolate and bee pollen. Also highly recommended -the smoked paprika fudge, malt loaf, crispy pear and builders tea ice cream.

The fixed price menu is £29.75 for two courses and £39.50, in my opinion good value for the standard of food that is served with every dish.

Casse Croûte - Bermondsey. London

109 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3XB
http://www.cassecroute.co.uk/

This cute French restaurant that opened recently on Bermondsey Street looks like something straight out of Provence with its red and white chequed table cloths, red leather seats and open wooden bar. Authentic dishes of the day are written in white chalk on blackboards- you might need the waitress to translate- and with only a few options to choose from the focus is quality over quantity. Passing by it always looks busy and inviting; happy diners chatting over carafes of red wine and tasty plates in a cosy environment.

Hutong- The Shard, London

31 St. Thomas Street, SE1 9RY
http://www.aquahutong.co.uk

If you happen to have a wad of spare cash itching to be spent or can wangle a free client dinner at this place (I found myself the lucky latter last month)...then go! An explosion of flavours from their contemporary northern Chinese menu and twinkling skyscraper views of London make the whole experience rather dreamy.  The numerous eating spaces and private dining rooms that span the panoramic 33rd floor are finished beautifully; a seductive landscape of hand carved dark wood, glowing red lanterns, floor to ceiling glass windows and a single wishing tree all evoke a feeling of luxury and serenity.

Starting with cocktails, the 'Chinese Lantern' was a delicious concoction of fresh mandarin, passion fruit, St. Germaine, plum bitters and champagne. The tasting menu brought us plates of joy in the form of dover and coriander soup, roasted peking duck with classic pancakes, Kung-Po style fried prawns, grouper fillet with black bean sauce, stir-fried shredded duck, crispy lamb ribs, spicy minced pork with string beans and Hutong's fried rice. We finished with cooling guava sorbet after our spicy savouries. I can't wait to go back...although it might only be for a cocktail.

Brasserie Zédel- Picadilly, London

20 Sherwood Street, W1F 7ED
http://www.brasseriezedel.com

A stone's throw from Piccadilly Circus, Brasserie Zédel is an opulent French restaurant housed in a grand ballroom that once belonged to the Regent Palace Hotel. The stunning Art Deco interior features mahogany wall panels, clothed tables adorned with small period lamps and marble pillars that stretch high up to a gilded ceiling.

The great value menu includes classic mains like Beef Bourguignon (£9.95) and steak haché with pepper sauce and frites (£8.75). Other traditional dishes like the onion soup and Creme Brûlée are both priced at a very reasonable £4.50. There's also the option of the fixed price menu- 2 courses for £8.95 and 3 for £11.75.

Extend your evening with cocktails in Bar Américane or visiting cabaret and jazz bar, 'The Crazy Coqs', both adjacent to Zédel.